Thread protector



Oct. 24, 1933. H. E, MccRERY THREAD PROTECTOR Filed May 15, '1930 Patented @12h24, 1933 PATENT ori-ucr.

My invention consists of an improvement in thread protectors for the threaded ends of pipe, tubing, rods, etc., and has for one of itsobjects an `improved form of protector of simple construction capable of being inexpensively' manufactured and easily applied to the threads to be protected.

It is well recognized by those skilled in the art that protectors of the general character herein contemplated are ordinarily used but once, they being applied to the threads to be protected at the source of supply and then thrown away at the point of use.

While a number of different types of thread protectors have heretofore been proposed, all of those which have come into commercial use, so

far as I am aware, have been formed of vcornparatively heavy metal, usually of such construction as to provide an intermediate portion or portions adapted to cooperate with the threads to be protected, and other portions extending outwardly therefrom. Not infrequently the outwardly extending portions have been such as to present comparatively sharp edges which have not only accumulated dirt and the like which is thereby held in-contact with the threads and causes rusting thereof, but such portions have also frequently resulted either in injury to the cars in which the protected pipe was loaded, due to the longitudinal movement of the pipe, or injury to the laborers during the handling thereof.

Protectors of the general character referred to have also been objectionable'for the reason that, particularly in the larger sizes, they have represented a considerable ritem of expense by reason of their initial cost, and have added appreciably to the weight of the articles to which they have been applied. f

In accordance with the present invention,

I provide a thread protector adapted to effecpurposes of illustration only certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing, Figure' 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a protecting sleeve prior to the assembly therewith of an end ring;

Figure 2 is a Viewl similar to Figure 1 illustrating an end ring andsleeve in cooperative relationship ready for an assembling operation;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 illustrating the sleeve and end ring in assembled relationship; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through a piece of pipe having a protector as illustrated in Figure 3 in position thereon; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a slightly modif-led embodiment of the invention.

In accordance withthe present invention, I preferably form, by any well known method of manufacture, a section of light gauge tubing which is Y.subsequently cut into lengths to provide a plurality of sleeves 2 as illustrated more particularly in Figure 1 of the drawing. The lengths having been cut off, they will preferably be subjected toa suitable shaping operation, either in a die or otherwise, to provide a bead or other rounded reinforcing and wear resisting terminal portion 3 which may or may not be formed upwardly around a core 4 of wire or the like.

During-the shaping operation, the opposite end l of the sleeve willv preferably be subjected to a shaping operation to provide inturned portions 5, the'amount of inturning being such that with the body of the sleeve 2 in contact with the tops of the threads to be protected, as illustrated, for example,.in Figure '4 of thedrawing, the inturned portions 5 Will be in engagement with the root of one or more of the threads. Prior to, simultaneously with or subsequently to the inturning operation, the upper end portion of each of the sleeves may be subjected to a slittingoperation to provide a plurality of slits 6 preferably only of such length as to extend through the inturned portion and thereby afford a plurality of spring tongues or fingers. If desired, however, the slitting operation maybe omitted and the inturned portion .left as a continuous annular inwardly projecting flange.

The, sleeves 2 having been formed in the manner referred to, end rings 7 each comprising an outwardly curved portion 8 and a substantially tubular skirt portion 9 are formed, one of the end rings being slipped over the upper end of each of the sleeves in the mannerindicated for example in Figure 2'of the drawing. This assembly having ybeen effected, the sleeve and end ring are subjected to va simultaneous shaping operation effective for interlocking the parts. This may be accomplished, for example, by a spinning operation effective for providing an outwardly extending bead l0. This having been accomplished, the protector is ready for use.

In applying the protector to the end of a pipe, rod or the like, it is merely slipped over the end and then lightly tapped, the application being effected entirely by a movement of the protector axially of the threaded article to which it is applied. During this application the spring tongues or fingers constituting the inturned portion 5 of the sleeve 2 spring outwardly over the successive threads until such time that the overhanging lip 11 on the end ring 7 comes into contact with the end of the article. Thereupon further axial movement of the protector is prevented, and the spring ngers snap inwardly into locking engagement with the threads. By properly selecting the thickness of the material relative to the thread characteristics and pipe, there may be provided spring fingers which will more or less tightly engage the threads, thereby eliminating the necessity of subjecting the spring or clip portion of the protector to any special shaping operation such as to cause it to more effectively engage the threads.

In case of the non-slitted construction as previously referred to, it will be obvious that it will depend entirely upon the resiliency of the metal as to whether the protector can be snapped into position in the manner described or not. With relatively light gauge metal, such a snap-on operation may be possible. With relatively heavier material, however, the resiliency of the inturned ange may not be sufficient to permit an application in the manner described, thereby making it necessary to thread the entire protector into position. With the flange disposed at an angle as described for example in connection with Figure 5 of the drawing, such a threading operation may easily be resorted to. f

If desired, the end ringk may be provided with any number of openings l2 in the outwardly curved portion thereof rto permit drainage therefrom of any moisture which may accumulate therein.

In Figures l to 4 of the drawing, I have illustrated a protector in which the inturned-portion being equally effective.

gether and prevent any possible'relative rotative Vmovement therebetween such as might occur, vfor example, in case of an attempt to remove the 5 lies in a plane whichY is substantially normal to the axis of the sleeve 2,. In Figure 5, however, I have illustrated a slightly modied embodiment of my invention in which the shaping operation to which the sleeves 2f lare subjected is such that the upper end extends at an angle generally corresponding to the angle of the threads to which the protector is to be applied. When so shaped,

it will be understood that the inturned portion 5 extends at a similar angle, such that when the protector is applied all parts of the'inturned portion will engage a common thread, all portions having'sirnilar engaging characteristics and all If desired, the sleeve and end ring after having been assembled, may be subjected to a suitable operation such, for example, as a spot Welding operation to permanently secure the parts toprotector by engaging only the end ring. The end ring will also preferably be of heavier gauge materialY than the sleeve, not only for'eifectively.

reinforcing vthe sleeve, but for providing a sufficient cross sectional area of the metal to prevent distortion during handling. Since the inturned portion 11 of the end ring extends over the end of the threaded article, it effectively prevents dirt and the like from working inwardly between the protector and the article. The outwardly bulged portion 8 of the end ring, together with the curved end portion 3 of the sleeve provide smooth surfaces on which a pipe or other article is supported so that endwise movement thereof does not chew up or destroy the supporting surface, and such that an operator may grasp the same without fear of injury to himself.

Also, since the main body of the sleeve engages the thread throughout substantially the entire length of such body, there is not provided any recess or pocket in which dirt may accumulate in Contact with the threads. This is decidedly advantageous as will be readily appreciated. Since all of this portion of the sleeve is in more on less intimate contact with the threads, a continuous support for the main body of the sleeve is provided, thereby making it possible to use metal of extremely light gauge.

Certain advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a thread protector comprising a tubular body portion constitutinga sleeve and preferably formed of relatively light gauge material in combination with an end ring secured thereto, and preferably of relatively heavier material.

Other advantages of the invention reside in the provision of a protector comprising a sleeve and end ring interlocked one withthe other and in which both the sleeve and end ring provide outwardly projecting curved supporting faces.

Still other advantages arise from a structure of the character referred to in which one end of the sleeve is so shaped as to provide a plurality of spring iingers or clips adapted to permit axial movement of the protector during application and insuring a firm interlock with the'threads upon conclusion of the axial movement. I have aiso found it to be desirable to so assemble the sleeves and end rings that the clip portions of the protectors are in turn protected by the end rings.

Where the clip portions lie in a substantially vcommon plane, they do not afford as effective. a

thread engaging means as where they are shaped Vto extend at the angle of the thread, but in;

tion of the parts may be madewithout departing. either from the spirit of the invention I0r,l the j scope of my broader claims.

I claim: l y f 1. As an article of manufacture, a thread protector comprising a sleeve having an outwardly curved lower end and an inturned upper end, andV an end ring secured to the upper end of` the sleeve and inclosing said inturned portion, saidV inturned portion being formed with a plurality of slits to provide spring fingers.

, 2. As an article of manufacture, a thread protector comprising a sleeve having an inturned upper end, and an end ring secured tothe upper end of the sleeve and enclosing said inturned portion, said inturned portion being formed with a plurality of slits to provide spring fingers.

3. As an article of manufacture, a thread protector comprising a sleeve having an inturned upper end, said inturned upper end being formed with a plurality of slits to provide spring ngers, and an end ring secured to the upper end of the sleeve and enclosing said inturned portion, said end ring being adapted to extend over the upper end of the pipe member.

4. As an article of manufacture, a thread protector comprising a sleeve having an inturned upper end, said inturned upper end being formed with a plurality of slits to provide spring fingers, and an end ring secured to the upper end of the sleeve and enclosing said inturned portion, said end ring being adapted to extend over the end of the pipe member and having a roll portion between the point of engagement with the end of the pipe member and the point where it is secured to the sleeve.

5. As an article of manufacture, a thread protector comprising a sleeve adapted to lie alongside the threads of a pipe member, said sleeve having an inturned upper end adapted to engage the threads of a pipe member and an end ring engaging the upper end of the sleeve adapted to extend over the end of thepipe member, and being adapted to exert a pressure on the upper end of the sleeve for bringing the inturned upper end thereof into tighter engagement with the threads of the pipe member by pressure of the pipe member on the ring.

HAROLD E. MCCRERY. 

